Slide fastener manufacture



Nov. 17, 1942. F. ULRICH V SLIDE FASTENER MANUFACTURE Filed March 28,1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l Al "MMIII Y E N R O T T A F. ULRICH SLIDE FASTENERMANUFAGTURE Nov. ly 7, 1942.

Filed March 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZZZL? ATTRNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Nov. 17, 1942., F. ULRICH SLDE FASTENER MANUFACTURE Filed March 28. 1939Nov. 17, 1942. F ULRlCH 2,302,075

SLIDE FASTENER MANUFACTURE Filed March 28, 1939 4 Sheetsfsheet 4- MMMPatented Nov. 17, 1942 PATENT osi-'ICE SLIDE FASTENER MANUFACTUREFrederick Ulrich, Bayonne, N. J., assignor to Conmar ProductsCorporation, Bayonne, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey v ApplicationMarch 28, 1939, Serial No. 264,551

13 Claims.

This invention relates to slide fasteners and more particularly to themanufacture thereof.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 179,299, filed December 11, 1937, Patent No.2,221,740, dated November 12, 1940, and entitled Manufacture of slidefastener elements." It is also a companion application to my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 264,550, filed concurrently herewith. In saidcompanion application, the manufacture of slide fasteners is dividedinto two stages, the first stage being the rolling of a smooth wire toform what may be termed a fastener wire, said wire being characterizedby a closely spaced series of projections and recesses therealong, andalso a closely spaced series of side notches. The spacing andconfiguration of the parts are such as to correspond to a series ofembryo elements, provided that the head of one element is nested fullywithin and substantially nlls the space within the spread jaws of thenext element. The rst stage of the process is preferably performed in aspecial rolling apparatus or rolling mill. The second stage of theprocess consists in severing the aforesaid rolled or deformed wire intoseparate fastener elements, and attaching the same in spaced relationalong the edge of a tape.

The primary object of the present invention is to so design theattaching machine as to adapt the same to receive a smooth fiat wireinstead of a specially deformed fastener Wire, or differently expressed,the primary object of the present invention is to completely eliminatethe first application, thus dispensing with the rolling mill.

Many features of the present attaching apparatus correspond to relatedfeatures of the attaching apparatus disclosed in my aforesaid companionapplication, and many objects of the present invention similarlycorrespond to some of the objects in said application. For example, anobject of the present invention is to minimize scrap or waste materialwhen forming the fastener elements. Another object is to eliminateangular disposition of an element when clamped on the tape, either dueto the pressure of the severing punch or due to a bend or kink in thewire. Further objects are to facilitate clamping of the jaws of anelement on the tape even if the elements are laid out on such a patternthat the jaws of a succeeding element overlap those of a precedingelement; to provide ample room for the various punches required in themachine without, however, interposing an excessive num- 55 tion thereof;to prevent longitudinal separation of the elements; to round the loweredge at the periphery of the head of the element; to so form theelements that they have parallel sides when the jaws are closed on thetape; and to insure l0 thorough removal of bits of scrap or waste, eventhough these are comparatively minute in dimension.

Other objects of my invention having to do more particularly with thespecific type of faslrtener machine here disclosed are to provide aforming punch for forming the interlocking means, or more specifically,the projections and recesses for the elements; to provide feed meansadapted to. successfully and accurately feed the metal stock, despitethe fact that the stock is perfectly smooth until after it has beenacted upon by the punches of the machine; and nally to provide means tointerrupt the supply of fastener elements to the tape when a gap orspace is to be provided on the tape between stringers,

without necessitating interruption of the drive for the feed mechanism,and while keeping the severed elements locked against accidentalmovement by means of the punch assembly.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which willhereinafter appear, my invention consists in the apparatus elements andtheir relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more articularldescribed s stage of the process disclosed in my companion p y m thepeclcatlon and sought to be defined in the claims. The

specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus em- 40 bodying features ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a piece of stock formed and severed adjacentthe tape and is explanatory of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 shows the relation of the elements when severed;

Fig. 7 illustrates the application of an element to the tape beforeclosing of the jaws;

Fig. 8 is a similar view after closing of the jaws;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a detail explanatory of the notching of theside edges of the stock;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the die taken approximately in the plane ofthe line II--II of Fig. 19;

Fig. l2 is an inverted plan view of the punch assembly takenapproximately in the plane of the line I2|2 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 13 shows the attaching apparatus in plan:

Fig. 14 is a detail explanatory of an air blast arrangement for theremoval vof scrap, this figure being a section taken approximately inthe plane of the line I4-I4 of Fig. 2l;

Fig. 15 shows the upper part of the attaching apparatus in elevation:

Fig. 16 is a detail looking in the plane of the line I6-I6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a plan view explanatory of the feed mechanism, severing die,and clamping plates;

Fig. 18 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a section through the die with the punches in elevatedposition;

Fig. 20 is a similar section with the punches in down position;

Fig..21 is a plan view of apart of the attaching apparatus drawn toenlarged scale;

Fig. 22 is a section taken in elevation through the ram and feedmechanism; and

Fig. 23 is a section through the ram, it being taken approximately inthe plane of the line 23-23 0f Fig. 22.

The fastener elements are formed from a strip of metal or wire indicatedat I2 in Figs/2 and 3. A section through this Wire, drawn to enlargedscale, is shown in Fig. 4, and it will be observed that the wire issimple smooth fiat stock. It is fed directly into the present apparatus,and is operated upon by a suitable forming punch to provide'interlockingmeans. or more specifically, to provide a projection I4 on onev side anda recess I 6 on the opposite side. The recess I6 provides metal for theprojection I4, as will be clear from inspection of Fig. 5. The wire I2is next acted upon to notch the side edges by removing small triangularpieces of scrap, as is when closed. It will be observed in Fig. 2 thatthe pitch or spacing of the projections I4 and notches I8 is very close,these projections and `notches corresponding to fastener elements onlyif the head of one element is disposed fully within the jaws of the nextelement, as is indicated at the right hand part of Fig. 2.

The stock is severed on the line 20 (Fig. 2) to form an individualfastener element. The severed element is restored to nested relationbetween the jaws at the end of the wire I2, and so a series of nestedelements are formed and fed along, jaw first, toward the beaded edge 22of a conventional tape 24. If desired, the elements may be acted upon bya rounding or finishing punch between the severing punch and the tape,all as is described in greater detail hereinafter.

The configuration of the fastener elements is better shown in Fig., 6,in which it will be seen that the head 26 of one element is loca-tedwithin and conforms to the interior of the jaws 28 of the next element,the head filling the space between the spread jaws. In other words, thejaws are so spaced and shaped as to receive the head 26 of the precedingelement. In Fig. '7, I show an individual element moved against thebeaded edge 22 of tape 24. The jaws are then. closed, as

shown in Fig. 8. The outer edges Il of the jaws change from a divergentpositionto parallel position, and are preferably spaced apart an amountequal to the width ofthe head 26. The ends I2 of the jaws are preferablydisposed substantially perpendicular to the outer edges 30, so that whenthe jaws are closed the ends 32 form a bearing surface for the slider ofthe finished slide fastener, which bearing surface vis substantiallyperpendicular to the tape, as shown in Fig. 8. When the element iscompleted and fastened to the tape, it does not differ noticeably inexternalappearance from elements made by more conventional methods. Atthe inside the jaws are preferably provided with short walls 34 whichprovide a substantial bearing surface to prevent cutting or penetrationofthe tape.

Another dtail may be described with reference to Fig. 6. The sides ofthe headare nonparallel, as is indicated by the anglev a. Differentlyexpressed, the head is necked or narrowed very slightly, as at the point36, thereby providing an undercut relation between the successiveelements. Even if this undercut is only a few thousandths of an inch, itis adequate to prevent longitudinal separation of the elements. When theelement is closed there may be slight recess at the point 36 (Fig. 8),but thisv is not noticeable to the eye, and has been greatly exaggeratedin the drawing. The undercut does not prevent transverse separation ofthe elements, such as takes place when the tape is moved vertically withthe clamped element thereon.

The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A reel 40 of the fiatmetal wire is supported on a suitable stand 42. The wire is taken fromreel 4U and is fed to a machine generally designated 44. A loop of slackwire 46 may be maintained between the reel 40 and machine 44, as bymeans of a feeler 48 controlling a motorr 5I) for intermittentlyunwinding the reel 40. The Wire is intermittently fed toward a tapewhich is supported in vertical position, the tape being intermittentlyfed upwardly` about a feed drum 52, and thence downwardly through aguide tube 54 into a suitable basket 56. 1

The head of machine 44 is shown in greater detail in Figs. 13 and 15 ofthe drawings. It comprises a timing shaft or cam shaft 62, carrying apulley 64 belted to a driving motor. The punches are carried by a ram 60(Fig. 13) slidable in a ram housing 66. The ram is reciprocated by agenerally U-shaped rocker 68, pivoted on a spindle 10. The ends of thetwo branches of the rocker carry cam follower rollers 12 engaging cams'I4 on cam shaft 62. 'Ihe tape 24 is fed intermittently upward by meansof tape feed drum 52, the tape being held frictionally against the drumby means of a shoe 18 (Fig. 15). Drum 52 is moved by a suitable pawl andratchet mechanism, the ratchet wheel (Fig. 13) being mounted at the endof a. shaft 82 carrying the feed drum 52. Ratchet wheel 80 cooperateswith a holding pawl 84 (Fig. 15) and a feed pawl 86, the latter beingcarried on an arm 88 pivoted on shaft 82 and having an oppositelyextending arm 90 oscillated by means of a connecting rod 92 leading toan eccentric 93 (Fig. 15) on cam shaft 62.

The fiat wire I2 is intermittently vfeci in a horizontal directiontoward the tape 24 by fecd mechanism which is described later, but atthis point it may be observed that a feed dog (not shown) is carried ona slide |06, and is retracted or moved outwardly by means of a feedlever pivoted at 84 (Fig. 13), the arm 86 of the feed lever carrying acam follower roller 88 engaging a cylindrical cam mounted on cam shaft62. The forward or feed movement of the slide |06 is caused by pullsprings |02 which are connected at one end to pins |04 projectingupwardly from the slide within the stationary gibs |08. 'Ihe oppositeends of springs |02 are connected to stationary pins ||0. The operationof the feed dog, while positive in the rearward direction, is yieldablein the forward direction, the reason for which is later explained.

I'he apparatus further includes a counter generally designated ||2 (Fig.13), the counter being connected by means of link ||4 to a suitableeccentric or crank pin on cam shaft 62. After a predetermined number offastener elements has been attached to the tape, the counter functionsto interrupt the feed of the wire, without, however, interrupting thefeed of the tape. More specically, the counter energizes a solenoid ||6which draws an iron core |I8 (Fig. 15) upwardly or inwardly, therebycausing a detent |20 to slip beneath a cross bar |22 extending betweenthe arms of the rocker 68. The parts are so related that detent |20slides beneath cross bar |22 only when'the cross bar is in elevatedposition, that is, at the rise of the cams 14. The ram 60 is thus heldin depressed position, and consequently the formation of additionalfastener elements is interrupted until the solenoid ||6 is againdeenergized.

The punches carried by ram 60 maybe described with reference to Figs.12, 19 and 20 of the drawings. The forming punch is indicated at |24.This is recessed at |26 to form the desired projection on top of thewire. Punch |24 cooperates with a xed die member |28 (see also Fig. 11),which is provided with a projection |38 to form the recess at the bottomof the wire. Projection |30 may be part of an insert in die member |28,instead of being integral therewith as shown.

The notching and severing punches are combined, and the combined punchis numbered |38. A spring pad |40 is located therebeneath. Punch |38cuts the wire away from an element beyond the punch. 'I'he element |42(Fig. 20) rests on the top surface of a stationary die member |44. It isheld by spring pad |46, nested alongside the punches |24 and |38. InFig. 19, the punches |24 and |38 and the pad |46 are shown in upposition, while the wire i2 is elevated by spring pad |40. In Fig. 20,the punches are shown in down position, and while element |42 is heldagainst die member |44 by pad |46, the punches |24 and |38 have forcedthe wire I2 down together with the spring pad |40, the wire beingsheared completely from the element |42, and being provided with anadditional projection and recess. When the ram 60 again rises, the wireI2 is raised by spring pad |40, thus restoring the jaws at the end ofthe wire to the head of the severed element |42.

'I'he triangular notches (I8 in Fig. 2) are formed by the punch |38cooperating with appropriate stationary die parts. Referring to Fig. 11,the die has stationary die surfaces |54 which are pointed to conformtothe desired notches in the wire. The spring pad |40 is indented toaccurately receive the points |54. In Fig. 12 it will be seen that thepunch |38 is provide-'il with four heels |56, and that the punch isindented at |58 between the heels to mate with the die surfaces |54 ofFig. 11. Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary transverse sections at the diesurfaces |54. In Fig. 9, the punch |38 is raised and spring pad |40supports the wire |2 in elevated position. The triangular scrap or notchportion I8' of the wire is disposed about the stationary die surface |54previously referred to. In Fig. 10, the punch |38 has moveddown to theend of its \stroke, thereby severing the wire (2 from the triangularpiece of scrap I8', the latter remaining on the stationary die surface|54.

Inasmueh as the pieces of scrap are very tiny, it is desirable to insuredependable discharge of the same. Referring to Fig. 21, compressed airis supplied through pipes to blocks |56 on top of the die. Changing nowto Fig. 14, the compressed air is led inwardly through passages |51 andis then directed downwardly alongside the punch |38. The compressed airthen flows outwardly throimh the passages |58, carrying the scrap withit, and then downwardly through discharge passages |60 leading to asuitable box beneath the machine. I

As a refinement which, however, is by no 'means essential, I prefer toprovide the apparatus with a finishing or rounding punch, this beingindicated at |82 in Figs. 19 and 20. It is moved together with the otherpunches and forms a part of the punch assembly. The stationary diesurface therebeneath is depressed and rounded somewhat, as isindicatedat |64 in Figs. 3 and 19. The rounding punch |62 forces thesubjacent element into the die curvature at |64, and thereby rounds thelower edge of the head. In

Fig. v11 the downward step of the die surface is clearly indicated at|64, and its outline conforms to the exterior oi' theopen-jawed fastenerelement. The fastener element remains at the slightly lower elevation oftheiright-hand part of the die surface until it reaches the tape andtape guide |66. Reverting to Figs. zand 3, there are iive severedelements between the wire 2 and the tape 24, and the rounding punchoperates upon the middle one of these five elements. The

= last two elements are always at the lower die level. 'I'he middleelement is initially at the upper die level, but is moved to the lowerdie level by the rounding punch. The difference in elevation may be veryslight, say 1%000 of an inch.

The mounting of the punch assembly is shown in Fig. 22, in which it willbe seen that the forming punch |24 may be adjusted by means of a screw|68; the notching and severing punch |38 is adjusted by means of a screw|10; and the rounding punch |62 is adjusted by means of a screw |12. Thespring pad |46 is nested between the punches |88 and |62, and isyieldably urged downward by means of a spring |14. The entire punchassembly is carried by ram 60 which is reciprocable in the guide or waysof ram housing 66. The relation between ram 60 and rocker 68 may beadjusted by screw |18. Fig. 23 shows the forming punch |24, the notchingand severing punch |38, the spring pad |46, the rounding punch |62, andthe ram 60, which in turn has its edges received in guides or Ways |16formed in the ram housing 66. Fig. 22 also shows the riiring |4|supporting the spring pad |40 of the It may be pointed out, withreference to Fig. 12, that the punch |38 is cut away at |80 to clear theprojections on the wire reaching the cutting edge of the punch. 'I'hespring-pressed pad |46 is recessed at |82 to fit around the projectionof the element being severed from the wire, hence the pad acts as alocating pad to insure a uniform location of the periphery of the headabout the projection and recess. The spring pad |48 is cut away at |84to clear the projection of the next element. The rounding punch |82 isrecessed at |88 to fit about the projection of the element beingrounded, in order not to flatten or deform the element. This punch isalso cut away at |88 to clear the projection of the next element.'I'hese recesses are also shown in Fig. 19, the severing punch |38 beingcut away at |80; the spring pad |48 being recessed at |82 and cut awayat |84; and the rounding punch |82 being recessed at |88 and cut away at|88,

To make the feed of the wire positive and accurate, it is fed by meansof a dog |90 (Fig. 19) which bears against the most recently formedprojection on the wire. 'I'he dog may be rigidly mounted because novertical movement is required. I prefer to feed the wire with the aid ofthe projection thereon, even though this necessitates movement of thefeed dog |90 beneath the forming punch |24, as is clearly shown in Fig.19. Feed dog |90 is retracted to the position shown in Fig. 20 beforethe punch descends. rI'here is little or no tendency for the wire tomove back with the feed dog, because the wire is smooth, and any suchtendency is adequately resisted when using an undercut relation betweenthe severed elements, such as was heretofore described in connectionwith Fig. 6. A check dog or lock for the flat wire is therefore optionalrather than essential, but such a lock is shown in Figs. 17 and 18 ofthe drawings.

The wire |2 moves between guides |92 and |94. Guide |94 is cut away toreceive a lock |98 pivoted at |98 and normally urged in clockwisedirection by means of a spring 200, the right-hand end of which iscarried by a stationary pin 202, and the left-hand end of which isconnected to a. pin 204 projecting upwardly from lock |98 and passing`through an appropriate slot 208. The end 208 of the lock |98 is madeeccentric with respect to the center |98, and the operation is such thatthe wire 2 is automatically locked against rearward movement, though nosubstantial resistance is offered to forward movement.

The feed dog |90 is rigidly secured at 2|0 to between the end of thefeed dog |90 and the punch |24, but this vibration, even if permitted,is harmless, and in practice may be reduced to a negligible amount byusing only a slight clearance between the feed dog and the formingpunch. Locking the ram in down position eliminates unnecessaryreciprocation, and avoids moving the jaws at the end of the wirerepeatedly into and out of engagement with the head of the element lastsevered.

The endmost element is clamped on the tape by an oppositely movable pairof clamping plates. Referring to Figs. 21 and 22, the clamping plates232 are secured to levers 234 pivoted at 238. 'Ihe other ends of thelevers 234 carry cam followers 238 which run between cylindrical cams240, carried on the main shaft 82 of the machine. The cams are so shapedas to oppositely move the clamping plates. Referring now to Fig. 17, itwill be seen that the corners 242 of clamping plates 232 are so locatedas to engage the jaws of the endmost element and at the same time toclear the jaws of the element next to the end. The

an arm 2|2 (Figs. 17, 19 and 20) which in turn is rigidly secured to.the slide |08 (Figs. 13, 15, 16, 21 and 422). In the present case, arm2| 2 is xedly mounted between ears 2|8 formed integrally with. andprojecting upwardly from the slide |08. The slide |08 is reciprocable inguides or ways formed in a part 2|8 (Fig. 16) of the machine, the slidebeing held in position by means of the gibs |08. A pin 220 (Figs. 15, 16and 22) depends from the slide |06 and is operated upon by the end 222of the feed arm 86, through an adjusting screw 224. Inasmuch as the part222 of the feed arm bears against one side only of pin 220, (it beingcut away on the opposite side of the pin), the slide is moved positivelytoward the left, while, its movement toward the right is solely underthe influence of the feed springs |02.

When producing a gap or space between stringers the punch assembly islocked in its down position, as shown in Fig. 20, and the forming punch|24 is therefore disposed directly in front of the then retracted feeddog |90. The feed cam |100 (Fig. 13) continues' its rotation, but thefeed dog, and with it the slide |06 and the feed arm 98, are held inretracted position. The parts may vibrate slightly if there is asubstantial clearance clamping plates are thinned to come beneaththeends 234 of guides or rails 238 which confine and guide the severedelements. When the clamping plates 232 move together, they compress thespread jaws of the endmost element from the open condition of Figs. 17and 7, to the closed condition of Fig. 8.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the presentinvention, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description.Flat wire is fed to a single machine where it is operated upon by aforming punch to form a projection and recess, and by a severing andnotching punch which removes triangular pieces of Waste and which seversthe wire of the fastener elements so shaped that the head of one elementis nested within and substantially fills the space of the spread jaws ofthe next element. The elements are kept in nested relation and are fedtoward an intermittently moved tape where the endmost element is clampedon the tape. If desired, a finishing operation such as that produced bythe rounding punch may be applied to the elements between the cuttingpunch and the tape. The movement of the tape disengages the attachedelement from the next element, whereupon the series is again advanced tobring another element astride the tape.

In respect to timing, it may be explained that in the rst part of themachine the ram descends, and then rises, while the feed dog isretracted. 'I'he feed dog then advances and returns, whereupon the ramagain descends. In the meantime, in the second part of the machine, thejaws of the endmost element are clamped by the clamping plates, and inthis part of the machine the timing is such that the clamping plates areopen when the tape rises with the previously clamped element. The timingrelation between the two parts of the machine is not at all critical,but it will be understood that the feed dog must move forward after thetape rises with the previously attached element, and that at this timethe clamping plates must be wide open. The clamping plates should not beclosed until after the feed dog has moved forward.

When a predetermined number of elements have been attached to the tape,as determined by the counter, the counter energizes the solenoid, whichholds the ram down, and this in turn holds the feed dog back. The tapecontinues to be fed by the pawl and ratchet mechanism operating the tapedrum,

The many advantages of the invention will also be understood from thedetailed description. The invention produces only a small amount ofscrap. It utilizes a simple, smooth fiat wire, and eliminates dierolling to form embryo elements. The elements are of generallyconventional type in that the outer walls of the jaws come intosubstantially parallel relationship when closed, while the ends of thejaws are substantially perpendicular to the tape. The feed of the wireis made a positive, predetermined amount by operating the feed dogagainst a projection formed on the wire after the wire has already beenoperated upon by the forming punch. Locking the ram in down position toprovide a gap space prevents loosening of the lit between elements, andautomatically interrupts the movement of the feed dog. The use of aseries of severed elements provides room for the punches and theassociated spring pad. It frees the jaws of the endmost element for theclamping operation, and it avoids angular positioning of the element, asby reason of the punch thrust or a bend in the wire. The sides of thehead are non-parallel and converge so as to provide an undercut of theelements after they are severed and engaged, and this preventslongitudinal separation. The nesting of the elements prevents improperorientation as they are moved toward the tape.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my inventionin a preferred form, many changes and modications may be made in thestructure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the inventiondefined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners, said apparatuscomprising means to guide a smooth, flat wire, a forming punch movabletransversely of the wirel said punch functioning to form a recess on oneside and a projection on the opposite side of the wire, a feed dogriding beneath said punch when said punch is elevated and bearingagainst said projection formed by said punch in order to positively feedsaid wire, and timing means whereby said feed dog is retracted from thepath of the punch when the punch descends.

v2. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide i'asteners, said apparatuscomprising means to guide a. smooth, flat wire, a forming punch movabletransversely of the wire, said punch functioning to form a recess on oneside and a projection on the opposite side of the wire, a feed dogriding beneath said punch when said punch is elevated and bearingagainst said projection formed by said punch in order to positively feedsaid wire, timing means whereby said feed dog is retracted from the pathof the punch when the punch descends,and a severing punch movabletransversely of the wire for severing the wire into fastener elementshaving a head with spread jaws projecting forwardly therefrom, the headbeing of such dimension as to flll the space between the Jaws.

3. Apparatus for the manufactureof slide fasteners, said apparatuscomprising means to intermittenly feed a tape, means to guide a smooth,fiat wire toward the tape, a forming punch movable transversely of thewire, said punch functioning to form a recess on one side and aprojection on the opposite side of the wire, a feed dog riding beneathsaid punch when said punch is elevated and bearing against saidprojection formed by said punch in order to positively feed said wire,resilient means urging the feed dog forward, a feed cam for positivelyretracting the feed dog when the punch descends, a severing punchmovable transversely of the wire for severing the wire into fastenerelements, clamping plates for clamping the elements to the tape, acounter, and means responsive to the counter to lock the punch indepressed position, whereby the feed dog is held against forwardmovement by the punch, in order to provide a gap or space betweenstringers.

4. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners, said apparatuscomprising means to intermittently feed a tape, means to guide a smooth,flat wire toward the tape, a forming punch movable transversely of thewire, said punch functioning to form a recess on one side and aprojection on the opposite side of the wire, a feed dog riding beneathsaid punch when said punch is elevated and bearing against saidprojection formed by said punch in order to positively feed said wire,resilient means urging the feed dog forward, a feed cam for positivelyretracting the feed dog when the punch descends, a severing punchmovable transversely of the wire for severing the wire into fastenerelements having a head with spread jaws projecting forwardly therefrom,the head being of such dimension as to ll the space between the jaws, apunch-operating cam, a rocker arm between said cam and the punch,

'clamping plates for clamping the jaws of the endmost element to thetape, a counter, means responsive to the counter to lock the rocker armin outermost position with the punch in depressed position, whereby thefeed dog is held against forward movement by the punch, in order toprovide a gap or space between stringers on the continuous tape.

5. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners, said apparatuscomprising means to guide a smooth, at wire, a forming punch movabletransversely of the wire, said punch functioning to form interlockingmeans on opposite sides of the wire, a severing punch movabletransversely of the wire fork severing the wire into fastener elements,and a reciprocable feed dog for intermittently feeding the wire past thepunches, said feed dog being so dimensioned and mounted that it actsupon Ithe interlocking means formed by the forming punch in order toprovide a positive feed movement for the wire.

6. In the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastener elements withapproximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that are approximatelyperpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with a slider, said jawsbeing narrowed to much smaller dimension adjacent the head, the methodwhich includes intermittently feeding a tape, intermittently feeding asmooth, flat wire toward the tape, said wire having a width just equalto the width of an element with spread jaws, each of the repeated feeddistances equalling only a small fraction of the length of an element,operating upon the wire to form al recess on one side of the wire and aprojection on the opposite side of the wire, and to cut away smalltriangular pieces of scrap in order to notch the side edges of the stripto conform to the outer ends of spread jaws having the aforesaidapproximately perpendicular ends of such dimension that when the jawsare closed their sides are substantially parallel, and to sever thestrip away from a small projecting piece of the strip, the severancebeing on an outline such as to define fastener elements with the head ofone element nested fully within and substantially filling the spacewithin the spread jaws of the next element, whereby the elements areformed without scrap other than the aforesaid small triangular pieces ofscrap at the side edges of the wire, restoring the wire and severedelement together again in nested relation, intermittently moving thenested severed elements toward the tape, and clamping the jaws of theendmost element on the tape in order to secure the element to the tape,while giving the element approximately parallel sides.

7. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider, said jaws being narrowed to much smaller dimension adjacent vthehead, said apparatus comprising means to guide a fiat, smooth wiretoward a tape, said wire having a width just equal to the width of anelement with spread jaws, punches movable transversely of the wire, saidpunches operating to form a recess on one side of the wire and aprojection on the opposite side of the wire, said punches furtheroperating to sever the wire from a piece of the wire projecting beyondthe severing punch and corresponding to one element, the outline of thesevering punch being such that the projecting piece constitutes afastener element having a head with spread jaws projecting forwardlytherefrom, the head being of such dimension as to ll the space betweenthe jaws, and said jaws having the aforesaid approximately perpendicularends of such dimension that when the jaws are closed their sides aresubstantially parallel,l a spring pad beneath the wire at the punch torestore the wire to the element previously severed therefrom, feed meansto intermittently feed the wire to the punches and tape, each of therepeated feed distances equalling only a small fraction of the length ofan element, and clamping plates at the tape for clamping the elements tothe tape, said plates having approximately parallel working faces whenclosed.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider, said jaws being narrowed to much smaller dimension adjacent thehead, said apparatus comprising means to guide a smooth, at wire towarda tape, said wire having a width just equal to the width of an elementwith spread jaws, punches movable transversely of the wire, said punchesfunctioning to form a recess on one side and a projection on theopposite side of the wire, and further functioning to sever the wirefrom` a piece of the wire projecting beyond the severing punch, andcorresponding to one element, the outline of the punch being such thatthe projecting piece constitutes a fastener element having a head withspread jaws projecting forwardly therefrom, the head being of suchdimension as to fill the space between the jaws, and said jaws havingthe aforesaid approximately perpendicular ends of such dimension thatwhen the jaws are closed their sides are substantially parallel, aspring pad beneath the wire at the punch to restore the wire to theelement previously severed therefrom, feed means to intermittently feedthe Wire to the punches and tape, each of the repeated feed distancesequalling only a small fraction of the length of an element, the punchbeing spaced of severed elements nested together with the head of eachfilling the jaw space of the next lie between the punch and the tape, arounding punch between said severing punch and said tape, said roundingpunch functioning to round the lower peripheral edge of the head of theelement, and clamping plates at the tape for clamping the endmostelement to the tape, said plates having approximately parallel workingfaces when closed.

9. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider, said. jaws being narrowed to much smaller dimension adjacent thehead, said apparatus comprising means to guide a smooth, fiat wire,punch and die mechanism including a plurality of punches movabletransversely of the wire, said punches functioning to form a recess onone side and a projection on the opposite side of the Wire, andfunctioning to cut small triangular shaped pieces of metal from thesides of the wire, and further functioning to severe the wire, theoutline of the severing punch being such that the severed piececonstitutes a fastener element having a head with spread jaws,

the head being of such dimension as to fill the space between the jaws,and said jaws having the aforesaid approximately perpendicular ends ofsuch dimension that when the jaws are closed their sides aresubstantially parallel, air blast means for helping remove said smalltriangular pieces of scrap, and feed means to intermittently feed thewire to the punches, each of the repeated feed distances equalling onlya small fraction of the length of an element.

10. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider, said jaws being narrowed to much smaller dimension adjacent thehead, said apparatus comprising means to guide a smooth, fiat wiretoward a tape, punch and die mechanism including a. plurality of punchesmovable transversely of the wire, said punches functioning to form arecess on one side and a projection on the opposite side of the wire,and functioning to cut small triangular shaped pieces of metal from thesides of the wire, and further functioning to sever the wire from apiece of the wire projecting beyond the severing punch, the outline ofthe punch being such that the projecting piece constitutes a fastenerelement having a head with spread jaws projecting forwardly therefrom,the head being of such dimension as to ll the space between the jaws,and said jaws from the tape by an amount such that a series having theaforesaid approximately perpendicular ends of such dimension that whenthe jaws are closed their sides are substantially parallel, a spring padbeneath the punch to restore the wire to the element previously severedtherefrom, stationary die surfaces beneath the wire at opposite sides ofthe spring pad cooperating with one of the aforesaid punches forremoving the small triangular shaped pieces of scrap, air blast meansfor helping discharge said triangular pieces of scrap, feed means tointermittently feed the wire to the punches and tape, each of therepeated feed distances equalling only a small fraction of the length ofan element, and clamping plates at the tape for clamping the elements tothe tape, said plates having approximately parallel working faces whenclosed.

11. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider, said jawsvbeing narrowed to much smaller dimensions adjacent thehead, said apparatus comprising means to guide a smooth, fiat wirehaving a width just equal to the width of an element with spread jaws, apunchand die operating to form a recess on one side of the wire and aprojection ori the opposite side of the wire, and operating to sever thewire, said die having a generally keyhole shaped slot for supporting andguiding an upwardly fed tape having a beaded edge, said die furtherhaving a convex cutting portion shaped to conform to the head oftheelement being severed, said die further comprising a depressiblespring pad fitting within and mating with said convex cutting portion,said pad lifting the wire clear of the die for forward feed afterformation of the projection and recess, said punch having` a concaveside mating with the aforesaid convex die portion, the arrangement beingsuch that, when the punch descends, it severs the wire from an elementsupported on the stationary die portion at'the end of the wire, theelement being left stationary on the die while the wire is puncheddownwardly away from the same, the outline of the punch and die beingsuch that the severed piece constitutes a fastener element having a headwith spread jaws projecting forwardly therefrom, the head being of suchdimension as to iill the space between the jaws, and said jaws havingthe aforesaid approximately perpendicular ends of such dimension thatwhen the jaws are closed their sides are substantially parallel, andfeed means to intermittently feed the wire to the punch and die, each'of the repeated feed distances equailing only a small fraction of thelength of an element.

l2. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider. said jaws being narr, rowed to much smaller dimensionadjacent-the head. said apparatus comprising means to guide a smooth,nat wire, a punch and die functioning to form a recess on one side anda'projection on the other side of the wire, and further functioning tocut small, triangular pieces of scrap to give the jaws the desiredperpendicular ends. and further functioning to sever the wire, said diehaving a generally key-hole shaped slot for supporting and guiding anupwardly fed tape having a beaded edge, said die further having a convexcutting portion shaped to conform to 'the head of the element beingsevered, said die further comprising two pointed or triangular-shapedside pieces for cutting notches in the side edges of y the wire, saiddie further comprising a depressible spring pad tting within and matingwith said convex cutting portion and triangular cutting portions, saidpad lifting the wire clear of the die for forward feed after formationof the pro- Jectlon and recess, said punch having a concave side matingwith the aforesaid convex die portion, said punch further havingtriangularly groovedv channels in the sides mating with `the `aforesaidtriangular die portions, the arrangepunched downwardly away from thesame, the

outline of thepunch and die being such that the severed piececonstitutes a fastener element.

13. Apparatus for the manufacture of slide fasteners having fastenerelements with approximately parallel sides and jaws with ends that areapproximately perpendicular to the sides for best cooperation with aslider, said jaws being narrowed to much smaller dimension adjacent thehead, said apparatus comprising means to guide a smooth, :dat wire,punch and die mechanism functioning to form a recess on one side and aprojection on the opposite side of the wireand functioning to cut smalltriangular shaped pieces of metal from the side of the wire, and furtherfunctioning to sever the wire, said die having a generally keyholeshaped slot for supporting and guiding an upwardly fed tape having abeaded edge, said die further having a convex cutting portion shaped toconform to the head of the element being severed, said die furthercomprising two pointed or triangular-shaped side pieces for cuttingnotches in the side edges of the wire, said die further comprising adepressible spring pad fitting within and mating with said convexcutting portion and triangular cutting portions,` said padlifting thewire clear of the die for forward feed after formation of the projectionand recess, said punch having a concave side mating with the aforesaidconvex die portion, said punch furtherv having triangularly groovedchannels in the sides mating with the aforesaid triangular portions, thearrangement ,being such that, when the punch descends, it severs thewire from an element supported on the stationary die portion at the endof the wire, and further severs the wire from two triangular pieces ofscrap supported on the aforesaid triangular die portions. the elementand scrap being left stationary on the die while the wire is puncheddownwardly away from the same; the outline of the severing punch ,beingsuch that the severed piece constitutes a fastener element having a headwith spread jaws, the head being of such dimension as to fill the spacebetween the jaws, and said jaws having the aforesaid approximatelyperpendicular ends of such dimension that, when the jaws are closedtheir sides are substantially parallel, air-blast l means for movingsaid small triangular pieces of scrap outwardly from the triangular dieportions, and feed means to intermittently feed the wire to the punchand die, each of the repeated feed distances equalling onlyv a smallfraction of the length of an element.

FREDERICK ULRICH,

